Post number 8328
Hello, my darlings! It’s your favourite tutu-wearing, ballet-loving Emma, and today I'm whisking you away on a day trip to the beautiful town of St. Albans. I have a confession to make – this was a long-overdue visit, as I've been meaning to go for ages! I must say, though, I wasn't disappointed. St Albans was just as charming as I'd imagined. I mean, with the Roman ruins, a stunning Cathedral, and a real buzz about the place, how could it not be? Plus, it was the perfect excuse for me to dust off my favourite European-style tutu, the one with all the ruffles and the tulle layers upon layers, and give it an outing!
I love the elegance of a European-style tutu. It's a little bit more theatrical, with the longer skirt, than the typical classic pointe-shoe tutu, and it somehow feels a bit more whimsical. Of course, it also feels wonderfully luxurious and floaty, making it perfect for a day of exploring.
A Bit of a Train Ride Romance:
Now, any of you who have followed me for a while know that I love a good train journey. There's just something so romantic about watching the world fly by outside the window. So, off I went from Derbyshire in the morning, with a copy of ‘Jane Eyre' (can you ever have too many copies of ‘Jane Eyre’?), and feeling ready for my big day in St Albans.
I love trains for a few reasons: Firstly, there’s that quiet sense of anticipation you get as the carriage gets more and more full. You can sense the stories of all those fellow travellers swirling around you, their destinations unknown, their lives and hopes full of exciting potential. It’s the stuff of so many novels, really! Secondly, I love the chugging and the rhythm of the track beneath the train, and I love looking out at the ever-changing scenery.
For my day out to St Albans, it wasn’t a train for hours and hours, but the 2-hour train ride felt long enough to give my book some dedicated reading time and to soak in some fresh air from the window. It also gave me a chance to catch up on some emails, do a bit of a daydream, and think about what I was going to eat at my lovely picnic I was going to enjoy in the heart of the St Albans countryside.
Time for a Ballet in St Albans:
Because you simply can’t visit St Albans without seeing some theatre! My research led me to the wonderfully historic Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre, and their timetable offered an amazing Ballet Blanc performance with some of the most incredible contemporary dance from across the UK.
My fellow theatregoers looked just as chic as I did in my tulle dress – after all, we do love ballet and its glamorous feel! The performance itself was breathtaking - modern, innovative and really moving. And the final moments – a silent finale where the dancers created this breathtaking tableau of bodies contorted and in the shape of flowers – well, it just had me transfixed, in awe of their artistry.
But wait - this wasn’t my only ballet experience in St Albans that day, for later on I went for a rather wonderful ballet class at the fabulous, boutique Dance Evolution school, and let me tell you, the dance space there was fantastic! The beautiful light from the skylight just makes you feel as though you’re a graceful sylph in some dreamy fairytale, or as if you’re about to join the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, but we mustn’t be too fanciful – even with our European-style tutus, we have to stay grounded!
The lesson itself was great fun: I even learnt some new moves from the ballet master, something called an arabesque a la seconde, and we had to have a go at the Grand Jeté too. So, I may have taken my pointe shoes with me (one can never be too prepared!), but as the ballerina on duty for my day-trip adventures, I was definitely not in them! This was a much more relaxing approach, with a lovely, graceful dance class using soft-shoe or demi-pointe – still stylish and sophisticated! It was wonderful. And did you know? They are running beginner ballet classes for adults, too! I love to encourage adults to get involved in the joy and skill that is ballet, and a whole host of dance styles. So much fun!
Tutu and Tummy in Harmony:
Let’s not forget my favourite way to round off any great day out, especially one in St Albans! It’s gotta be a lovely picnic – and by picnic I mean the perfect combination of yummy, picnic-style foods – because, you know, I’m all for eating like a Queen on a sunny day – so fresh, local, beautifully-presented foods with maybe a touch of decadent treats (my favourite being a homemade lemon and meringue cake), and all tucked away on a gingham blanket (pink, naturally), somewhere lovely. St Albans’ verdant green parks just begged for my lovely spread of dainty delights and sandwiches, so it had to be done!
My little adventure finished with a wander round the gorgeous Cathedral, where I did a little people watching from the cloisters. (My kind of afternoon delight.) You could say it was a tutu-tastic day – so many fabulous moments, memories, and even an outfit change (into a super chic linen skirt for the train ride back to Derbyshire) – perfect for catching a few Zs as the train gently whisked me away. And of course, I have to make a special shout out to St Albans - what a brilliant, exciting place. It was a lovely reminder that you can get away to find a whole lot of joy in a day – just a day!
So, I’ll be back to share more fun adventures, lovely finds, and my very latest tutu fashion picks, my lovelies! Remember: Every day can be an adventure in pink!
Love, Emma 💕
(Emma is a real person - check out www.pink-tutu.com.
www.pink-tutu.com, this site, does not currently have Emma’s blog on it.)
